Case: Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility v. Office of Management and Budget

8:25-cv-04164 | U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland

Filed Date: Dec. 17, 2025

Case Ongoing

Clearinghouse coding complete

Case Summary

This case challenges the Office of Management and Budget’s refusal to apportion congressionally appropriated funds to the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), alleging an unlawful effort to dismantle independent oversight of the executive branch. On December 17, 2025, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), the Government Accountability Project (GAP), and the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court …

This case challenges the Office of Management and Budget’s refusal to apportion congressionally appropriated funds to the Council of the Inspectors General on Integrity and Efficiency (CIGIE), alleging an unlawful effort to dismantle independent oversight of the executive branch.

On December 17, 2025, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER), the Government Accountability Project (GAP), and the Project On Government Oversight (POGO) filed this lawsuit in the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland against the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and Russell Vought, sued in his official capacity as OMB Director. Plaintiffs alleged that OMB unlawfully withheld and partially apportioned CIGIE’s no-year funds, forcing the shutdown of CIGIE’s operations and impairing its statutory mission to support and oversee federal Offices of Inspector General.

Proceeding under the Administrative Procedure Act, the Anti-Deficiency Act, the Impoundment Control Act, and the U.S. Constitution, plaintiffs claimed that defendants exceeded their statutory authority and acted arbitrarily and capriciously by refusing to make CIGIE’s funds available for obligation. Plaintiffs alleged that OMB’s actions violated separation-of-powers principles by effectively nullifying Congress’s funding decisions and undermined the independence of inspectors general nationwide. They sought declaratory relief, preliminary and permanent injunctive relief requiring OMB to fully apportion CIGIE’s funds for fiscal year 2026, and attorneys’ fees and costs. The case was assigned to District Judge Paula Xinis.

This case is ongoing.

Summary Authors

Michael Vandergriff (1/13/2026)

People

For PACER's information on parties and their attorneys, see: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72049938/parties/public-employees-for-environmental-responsibility-v-office-of-management/

Judge(s)
Attorney for Plaintiff

Bressler, Steven Y. (Maryland)

Goldstein, Elena (Maryland)

Perryman, Skye Lynn (Maryland)

Schellenberg, Kali (Maryland)

Sus, Nikhel Suresh (Maryland)

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Documents in the Clearinghouse

Document
1

8:25-cv-04164

Complaint for Declaratory and Injunctive Relief

Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility et al. v. Office of Management and Budget et al.

Dec. 17, 2025

Dec. 17, 2025

Complaint

Docket

See docket on RECAP: https://www.courtlistener.com/docket/72049938/public-employees-for-environmental-responsibility-v-office-of-management/

Last updated Feb. 9, 2026, 12:12 a.m.

ECF Number Description Date Link Date / Link
1

COMPLAINT against All Defendants ( Filing fee $ 405 receipt number AMDDC-12424039.), filed by Government Accountability Project, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Project on Government Oversight. (Attachments: # 1 Civil Cover Sheet, # 2 Summons, # 3 Summons, # 4 Summons, # 5 Summons)(Schellenberg, Kali) (Entered: 12/17/2025)

1 Civil Cover Sheet

View on PACER

2 Summons

View on PACER

3 Summons

View on PACER

4 Summons

View on PACER

5 Summons

View on PACER

Dec. 17, 2025

Dec. 17, 2025

Clearinghouse
2

NOTICE of Appearance by Kali Schellenberg on behalf of Government Accountability Project, Project on Government Oversight, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Schellenberg, Kali) (Entered: 12/17/2025)

Dec. 17, 2025

Dec. 17, 2025

3

NOTICE of Appearance by Elena Goldstein on behalf of Government Accountability Project, Project on Government Oversight, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Goldstein, Elena) (Entered: 12/17/2025)

Dec. 17, 2025

Dec. 17, 2025

4

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Amy C. Vickery (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12424231.) by Government Accountability Project, Project on Government Oversight, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility(Schellenberg, Kali) (Entered: 12/17/2025)

Dec. 17, 2025

Dec. 17, 2025

5

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Christina L. Wentworth (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12424233.) by Government Accountability Project, Project on Government Oversight, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility(Sus, Nikhel) (Entered: 12/17/2025)

Dec. 17, 2025

Dec. 17, 2025

6

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Webb Lyons (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12424243.) by Government Accountability Project, Project on Government Oversight, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility(Schellenberg, Kali) (Entered: 12/17/2025)

Dec. 17, 2025

Dec. 17, 2025

7

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Alex M. Goldstein (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12424289.) by Government Accountability Project, Project on Government Oversight, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility(Sus, Nikhel) (Entered: 12/17/2025)

Dec. 17, 2025

Dec. 17, 2025

8

MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Jonathan Maier (Filing fee $100, receipt number AMDDC-12424303.) by Government Accountability Project, Project on Government Oversight, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility(Sus, Nikhel) (Entered: 12/17/2025)

Dec. 17, 2025

Dec. 17, 2025

9

NOTICE of Appearance by Skye Lynn Perryman on behalf of Government Accountability Project, Project on Government Oversight, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Perryman, Skye) (Entered: 12/18/2025)

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

10

NOTICE of Appearance by Steven Y. Bressler on behalf of Government Accountability Project, Project on Government Oversight, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Bressler, Steven) (Entered: 12/18/2025)

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

11

Summons Issued 60 days as to Office of Management and Budget, Russell Vought, U.S. Attorney and U.S. Attorney General(bw5s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/18/2025)

Dec. 18, 2025

Dec. 18, 2025

12

QC NOTICE: 4 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice, filed by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Government Accountability Project, Project on Government Oversight needs to be modified. See attachment for details and corrective actions needed regarding the signature(s) on the motion. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

13

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 5 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Christina L. Wentworth. Directing attorney Christina L. Wentworth to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 12/19/2025. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

14

QC NOTICE: 6 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice, filed by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility, Government Accountability Project, Project on Government Oversight needs to be modified. See attachment for details and corrective actions needed regarding the signature(s) on the motion. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

15

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 7 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Alex M. Goldstein. Directing attorney Alex M. Goldstein to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 12/19/2025. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

16

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 8 Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Jonathan Maier. Directing attorney Jonathan Maier to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 12/19/2025. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

17

CORRECTED MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Amy C. Vickery by Government Accountability Project, Project on Government Oversight, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. The fee has already been paid.(Schellenberg, Kali) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

18

CORRECTED MOTION to Appear Pro Hac Vice for Webb Lyons by Government Accountability Project, Project on Government Oversight, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility. The fee has already been paid.(Schellenberg, Kali) (Entered: 12/19/2025)

Dec. 19, 2025

Dec. 19, 2025

19

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 17 Corrected Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Amy C. Vickery. Directing attorney Amy C. Vickery to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 12/23/2025. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/23/2025)

Dec. 23, 2025

Dec. 23, 2025

20

PAPERLESS ORDER granting 18 Corrected Motion to Appear Pro Hac Vice on behalf of Webb Lyons. Directing attorney Webb Lyons to register for pro hac vice filing in the District of Maryland through PACER at https://pacer.uscourts.gov/ if attorney has not already done so. The Pro Hac Vice option must be selected when registering. Signed by Clerk on 12/23/2025. (mh4s, Deputy Clerk) (Entered: 12/23/2025)

Dec. 23, 2025

Dec. 23, 2025

21

NOTICE of Appearance by Amy C. Vickery on behalf of Government Accountability Project, Project on Government Oversight, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Vickery, Amy) (Entered: 01/05/2026)

Jan. 5, 2026

Jan. 5, 2026

22

NOTICE of Appearance by Webb Lyons on behalf of Government Accountability Project, Project on Government Oversight, Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (Lyons, Webb) (Entered: 01/05/2026)

Jan. 5, 2026

Jan. 5, 2026

Case Details

State / Territory:

Maryland

Case Type(s):

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority

Special Collection(s):

Trump Administration 2.0: Challenges to the Government

Key Dates

Filing Date: Dec. 17, 2025

Case Ongoing: Yes

Plaintiffs

Plaintiff Description:

Ethics NGO seeking grant disbursement for ethics watchdogs.

Plaintiff Type(s):

Non-profit NON-religious organization

Attorney Organizations:

Democracy Forward

Public Interest Lawyer: Yes

Filed Pro Se: No

Class Action Sought: No

Class Action Outcome: Not sought

Defendants

Russell Vought (- United States (national) -), Federal

Case Details

Causes of Action:

Administrative Procedure Act, 5 U.S.C. §§ 551 et seq.

All Writs Act, 28 U.S.C. § 1651

Declaratory Judgment Act, 28 U.S.C. § 2201

Constitutional Clause(s):

Due Process

Separation of Powers

Other Dockets:

District of Maryland 8:25-cv-04164

Available Documents:

Complaint (any)

Trial Court Docket

Outcome

Prevailing Party: None Yet / None

Relief Sought:

Declaratory judgment

Injunction

Relief Granted:

None yet

Source of Relief:

None yet

Issues

Presidential/Gubernatorial Authority:

Impoundment (mandatory spending)